Kansai’s ‘omotenashi’ hospitality to foreigners may be model for all Japan

by Genki Ito

Kyodo

OSAKA – Omotenashi hospitality services introduced by transportation companies in the Kansai region for foreign visitors are increasingly expected to be a model for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Dong Fang, a 28-year-old staff member of a West Japan Railway Co. affiliate, works as a helping hand for foreign tourists crowding the platform of the Nara Line at JR Kyoto Station.

Fluent in Japanese and English in addition to her native Chinese, Dong helps foreign tourists get on the correct trains to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine in Fushimi Ward famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates and a popular tourist site.

Dong is one of the foreign staff members who can be found sitting in booths on platforms to wait for questions from tourists or walking around to actively offer assistance.

Kyoto Station began the service in April 2014 because many foreign tourists would form long lines near ticket gates to ask station attendants for directions, despite the presence of many information boards written in multiple languages.

“We recognized the demand for direct person-to-person interaction” to help foreign tourists, stationmaster Kazuyoshi Yamamoto said.

The Sakura Taxi Group, based in Fukushima Ward, Osaka, introduced a system in September enabling all of its 400 or so cabs to receive support around the clock from interpreters in Chinese and four other languages when drivers are unable to communicate with their passengers.

Each Sakura cab has a microphone-speaker attached to the sun visor above the driver’s head through which an interpreter translates conversations, which are then relayed to passengers.

“It’s almost impossible for all drivers to learn foreign languages,” a Sakura official said. “But the system helps drivers smoothly take passengers to their destinations.”

Noriko Yagasaki, an associate professor of tourism at Toyo University and a member of the organizing committee for the 2020 Olympics, has been looking at hospitality efforts by rail and bus companies in the Kansai region.

“Careful support is necessary in particular to help (each foreign visitor) use Japan’s complicated transit systems. Their (Kansai’s) methods of attending to specific needs should be introduced in Tokyo as well,” she said.

In fact, programs to help foreign visitors have already started in Tokyo, focusing on the importance of dialogue.

For example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government began an English training program in July for volunteers who will give directions to foreign visitors and help them buy train tickets. Participants receive five two-hour lessons to learn practical English.

Some 35,000 Tokyoites and other citizens are expected to take part in the program by 2019, according to the metropolitan government.

“Visitors feel good if they are spoken to by friendly local people,” an official said. “Everyone can give good service to visitors anywhere on the street.”

Hendrix

The more i hear that word (omotenashi) the more nauseating it gets. Just say “hospitality” because that is all it is, i wish they would drop the whole cultural superiority routine, it’s really getting tiring.
- 大千釜創雷
  
  So edgy. Hahaha.
- disqus_vBekJrf7g5
  
  I agree, except that ‘Omotenashi’ isn’t really ‘hospitality’ in the English sense, as much as it isn’t some kind of ‘special Japanese’ ‘selfless hospitality’ (which of course selfish foreigners can’t understand) snobbery, but rather Omotenashi= giving the customer what we think the customer wants, and getting offended when the customer doesn’t want it.
  THAT’S omotenashi.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    Yes, omotenashi is not hospitality. It is just a marketing buzzword concocted by Japan Inc. to attract foreign tourists to prop up the domestic economy. Let’s just call a spade a spade for once.
- Jake Ashton
  
  dude, it’s an article about japan from a japan-based newspaper. what do you expect? i hope you’re being ironic since expecting everyone in japan to use ‘hospitality’ is a much blatant show of cultural superiority than the title of this article could ever be. lol
  - disqus_vBekJrf7g5
    
    I guess you didn’t see the news last week that the Tokyo Olympic Committee is searching for a new buzzword for the 2020 Olympics because (their words) ‘everybody is using ‘omotenashi’, even if they have no connection to the Olympics’?
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    That was their own damned fault for trotting out the word at the first prospect of the Olympics coming here. But hey, it gave us a new/old “talent”. Blech.
  - disqus_vBekJrf7g5
    
    I guess you didn’t see the news last week that the Tokyo Olympic Committee is searching for a new buzzword for the 2020 Olympics because (their words) ‘everybody is using ‘omotenashi’, even if they have no connection to the Olympics’?
  - Hendrix
    
    You have no idea what you are talking about, the Japanese translate Omotenashi as “selfless hospitality” and say it’s “unique ” to Japan.. which means foreigners don’t understand or can’t comprehend selfless hospitality ie they are selfish… omotenashi is obnoxious and takes away a guests free will to choose as they wish , it’s just rules imposed on the guest so as to control their experience of being a guest.
  - Jake Ashton
    
    while i do agree that “omotenashi” has been a buzzword that’s been slightly overused lately, different cultures have different concepts and ideas so i find it quite ironic you are complaining of rules being imposed when it seems like you are trying to impose your own rules and beliefs on this country.
  - Hendrix
    
    A silly reply if ever there was one. Who says i am trying to impose rules and beleifs on Japan? i am making an observation that the Japanese beleive their hospitality and culture is superior and that no foreigner could ever understand it, basically conceited narcissism..
  - Jake Ashton
    
    exactly, your misconstrued observation and criticism of a culture you do not understand is a perfect reflection of the attitude you are complaining about. thank you for proving my point.
  - Hendrix
    
    You have no idea what you are blabbering about, you don’t even know me how can you assume i do not understand Japanese culture… and you have proved yourself to be one of those sell out foreigners who is all too eager to kiss Japans backside.
  - Jake Ashton
    
    you’re right, i do not know you but judging from all of your other comments, i can infer that 1) i am glad i do not know you, and 2) that you seem quite unhappy here but continue to reside in japan either due to financial, social or economical restraints or obligations (e.g. have a business here, started a family here, no job prospects elsewhere, no money to leave).
    
    while i agree that there is a lot that can be improved upon in japan, your negative attitude and lack of constructive criticisms will only make you more miserable, and i hope for your sake and those around you that you are able to find happiness somehow and a more positive outlook on life in general. otherwise you will be an unpleasant and lonely person regardless of wherever you are.
    
    good day to your sir.
  - Hendrix
    
    You think you are smart but your assumptions are still wrong and i am in no mood to explain myself to you. in your mind anyone who makes a realistic criticism of Japan is some kind of miserable sad foreigner who is hopeless, hasn’t got a pot to piss in and has nowhere to go apart from hanging about on discussion boards. You are right, you don’t know me.
  - Hendrix
    
    You think you are smart but your assumptions are still wrong and i am in no mood to explain myself to you. in your mind anyone who makes a realistic criticism of Japan is some kind of miserable sad foreigner who is hopeless, hasn’t got a pot to piss in and has nowhere to go apart from hanging about on discussion boards. You are right, you don’t know me.
  - Jake Ashton
    
    haha ok
  - Hendrix
    
    You have no idea what you are blabbering about, you don’t even know me how can you assume i do not understand Japanese culture… and you have proved yourself to be one of those sell out foreigners who is all too eager to kiss Japans backside.
- Jake Ashton
  
  dude, it’s an article about japan from a japan-based newspaper. what do you expect? i hope you’re being ironic since expecting everyone in japan to use ‘hospitality’ is a much blatant show of cultural superiority than the title of this article could ever be. lol
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    I really wish I could be excluded as obviously as you are. No matter the shop, service, etc, I will be offered a crap tissue pack every time one is being offered. Maybe I need to put on my angry “Steve Jackman” face. I just need to think “xenophobic, xenophobic, xenophobic”…
  - Steve Jackman
    
    I’m sure it’s your good looks (or, do you walk around train stations with a silly smile on your face?). Too bad, the rest of us can’t be as good looking as you.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    I’m sure it’s your good looks (or, do you walk around train stations with a silly smile on your face?). Too bad, the rest of us can’t be as good looking as you.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    I’m sure it’s your good looks (or, do you walk around train stations with a silly smile on your face?). Too bad, the rest of us can’t be as good looking as you.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    There is a facial expression between a smile and a scowl. You might want to try it some time.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    Did they teach you that when you were working at the call center?
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    Classy. I dig that you go in reliable directions when you’re trumped, Steve.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    Did they teach you that when you were working at the call center?
  - Steve Jackman
    
    I’m sure it’s your good looks (or, do you walk around train stations with a silly smile on your face?). Too bad, the rest of us can’t be as good looking as you.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    I’m sure it’s your good looks (or, do you walk around train stations with a silly smile on your face?). Too bad, the rest of us can’t be as good looking as you.
  - Hendrix
    
    yeah i noticed that when handing out tissues etc.. the hand snaps back when they see a foreign face… next time i will demand my tissues loudly. They hate to lose face in Japan.
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Steve Jackman
  
  I completely agree. Also, how about those people outside all the train stations in Japan handing out free packs of tissues and promotional flyers to everyone who walks in and out of the station, EXCEPT to those who look non-Japanese. Someone’s clearly taught them to racially profile people and exclude non-Japanese, because they’re obviously not welcome at the businesses which are being advertised. Wonderful Japanese omotenashi which feels foreigners really welcome in Japan, isn’t it?
- Blair
  
  I agree. It’s almost as tedious as your posts
- Blair
  
  I agree. It’s almost as tedious as your posts
  - Steve Jackman
    
    “It’s almost as tedious as your posts”. Perhaps, You are too blind to notice all the up votes his posts have received. Obviously, they’re not tedious to the rest of us. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of your posts.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    “It’s almost as tedious as your posts”. Perhaps, You are too blind to notice all the up votes his posts have received. Obviously, they’re not tedious to the rest of us. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of your posts.
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    Well, when he posted that… he meant the posts are tedious to him, I doubt he gives a damn whether they are tedious to anyone else or not. But hey, at least you told him in reiterating that YOU think HIS posts are tedious! You told him!!!!
  - Steve Jackman
    
    Dumb and dumber!
  - Clickonthewhatnow
    
    You do tend to get that way over time.
  - Steve Jackman
    
    Dumb and dumber!
  - Blair
    
    touche, good sir knight
  - Hendrix
    
    Hey Tony where’s your mate Bush? .. answered for your war crimes yet? ..hehe
  - Blair
    
    Hey Jimi, where’s your girlfriend? Oh, there she’s come…running to your defense. How sweet
Steve Jackman

What? These things have nothing to do with omotenashi or hospitality, but are based on business opportunities and commercial factors. Japanese companies know that they need to rely on foreign tourists for their economic survival, since the Japanese comsumers are getting older and poorer by the day. Let’s not wrap commercial activities under the garb of some imaginary Japanese hospitality or omotenashi.
GBR48

This is a comments section, not just a moaning section isn’t it? Sometimes it is difficult to tell.

Tokyo’s rail network is easy to navigate for anyone who takes a few hours to prepare themselves online, and who doesn’t do that nowadays before a holiday? Navigating almost anywhere in Japan is really easy in an online world. If you can afford to get to and stay in Japan, you can afford a tablet or smartphone and to rent a pocket WiFi. And of course there are signs everywhere in Japanese, Romaji, English and increasing Korean and Mandarin too. Maps are freely handed out outside stations and there are plenty of map boards. Almost all tourist venues have information desks.

Aside from the issue of limited express trains missing some stops, which is usually explained visually on station boards (and on Wikipedia), and green cars, it’s a doddle. If you are uncertain, or fear your accent may confuse someone, write your journey down on a piece of paper when purchasing a ticket. Most tourists will just get a Suica or Icoca card on arrival, which makes things even simpler.

Maybe with the exception of Shinjuku station (where getting lost is a must-do tourist experience in itself), it’s just about impossible to get lost in central Tokyo, and whilst the railway staff are generally no more or less multilingual than anywhere else, they are always happy to help – you don’t need advanced conversational skills to find out how to get from A to B.

Online translation of basic words (even showing photos of what you want) on a tablet is usually enough in most circumstances, whilst a written address or a Google Maps location is fine for a taxi driver.

Ironically, the only place I had trouble navigating in Japan was the Kansai area. All of a sudden the stations aren’t always where you need them, and there are buses everywhere. A bafflingly huge number of the things. Even then it just takes a moment of adjustment-no more than is needed to work out which bus you need in your home town. There are endless resources for visitors to Japan online. From the Hiroshima tram system to the glorious monorails, it is all online.

It’s lovely that everyone wants to make such an effort for tourists and we should appreciate it instead of whining all the time. Unless people are really lazy and don’t make any attempt to plan any trips they intend to make, Japan is one of the easiest places in the world to find your way about in.

The addition of multilingual staff stationed at appropriate places will help those who maybe have trouble with technology, and offers a bit of extra reassurance for anyone caught up in a large crowd at a busy time of the day, so it will help and is welcome.

My only reservation regarding ‘omotenashi’ is that visitors may take advantage of it.
GBR48

This is a comments section, not just a moaning section isn’t it? Sometimes it is difficult to tell.

Tokyo’s rail network is easy to navigate for anyone who takes a few hours to prepare themselves online, and who doesn’t do that nowadays before a holiday? Navigating almost anywhere in Japan is really easy in an online world. If you can afford to get to and stay in Japan, you can afford a tablet or smartphone and to rent a pocket WiFi. And of course there are signs everywhere in Japanese, Romaji, English and increasing Korean and Mandarin too. Maps are freely handed out outside stations and there are plenty of map boards. Almost all tourist venues have information desks.

Aside from the issue of limited express trains missing some stops, which is usually explained visually on station boards (and on Wikipedia), and green cars, it’s a doddle. If you are uncertain, or fear your accent may confuse someone, write your journey down on a piece of paper when purchasing a ticket. Most tourists will just get a Suica or Icoca card on arrival, which makes things even simpler.

Maybe with the exception of Shinjuku station (where getting lost is a must-do tourist experience in itself), it’s just about impossible to get lost in central Tokyo, and whilst the railway staff are generally no more or less multilingual than anywhere else, they are always happy to help – you don’t need advanced conversational skills to find out how to get from A to B.

Online translation of basic words (even showing photos of what you want) on a tablet is usually enough in most circumstances, whilst a written address or a Google Maps location is fine for a taxi driver.

Ironically, the only place I had trouble navigating in Japan was the Kansai area. All of a sudden the stations aren’t always where you need them, and there are buses everywhere. A bafflingly huge number of the things. Even then it just takes a moment of adjustment-no more than is needed to work out which bus you need in your home town. There are endless resources for visitors to Japan online. From the Hiroshima tram system to the glorious monorails, it is all online.

It’s lovely that everyone wants to make such an effort for tourists and we should appreciate it instead of whining all the time. Unless people are really lazy and don’t make any attempt to plan any trips they intend to make, Japan is one of the easiest places in the world to find your way about in.

The addition of multilingual staff stationed at appropriate places will help those who maybe have trouble with technology, and offers a bit of extra reassurance for anyone caught up in a large crowd at a busy time of the day, so it will help and is welcome.

My only reservation regarding ‘omotenashi’ is that visitors may take advantage of it.
GBR48

This is a comments section, not just a moaning section isn’t it? Sometimes it is difficult to tell.

Tokyo’s rail network is easy to navigate for anyone who takes a few hours to prepare themselves online, and who doesn’t do that nowadays before a holiday? Navigating almost anywhere in Japan is really easy in an online world. If you can afford to get to and stay in Japan, you can afford a tablet or smartphone and to rent a pocket WiFi. And of course there are signs everywhere in Japanese, Romaji, English and increasing Korean and Mandarin too. Maps are freely handed out outside stations and there are plenty of map boards. Almost all tourist venues have information desks.

Aside from the issue of limited express trains missing some stops, which is usually explained visually on station boards (and on Wikipedia), and green cars, it’s a doddle. If you are uncertain, or fear your accent may confuse someone, write your journey down on a piece of paper when purchasing a ticket. Most tourists will just get a Suica or Icoca card on arrival, which makes things even simpler.

Maybe with the exception of Shinjuku station (where getting lost is a must-do tourist experience in itself), it’s just about impossible to get lost in central Tokyo, and whilst the railway staff are generally no more or less multilingual than anywhere else, they are always happy to help – you don’t need advanced conversational skills to find out how to get from A to B.

Online translation of basic words (even showing photos of what you want) on a tablet is usually enough in most circumstances, whilst a written address or a Google Maps location is fine for a taxi driver.

Ironically, the only place I had trouble navigating in Japan was the Kansai area. All of a sudden the stations aren’t always where you need them, and there are buses everywhere. A bafflingly huge number of the things. Even then it just takes a moment of adjustment-no more than is needed to work out which bus you need in your home town. There are endless resources for visitors to Japan online. From the Hiroshima tram system to the glorious monorails, it is all online.

It’s lovely that everyone wants to make such an effort for tourists and we should appreciate it instead of whining all the time. Unless people are really lazy and don’t make any attempt to plan any trips they intend to make, Japan is one of the easiest places in the world to find your way about in.

The addition of multilingual staff stationed at appropriate places will help those who maybe have trouble with technology, and offers a bit of extra reassurance for anyone caught up in a large crowd at a busy time of the day, so it will help and is welcome.

My only reservation regarding ‘omotenashi’ is that visitors may take advantage of it.
- disqus_vBekJrf7g5
  
  ‘Moaning section’.
  You must be doing that thing where any criticism of Japan is seen as an attack to be defended against, rather than accepting that the people targeted by the ‘omotenashi’ campaign are rejecting it as patronizing, and adjusting behavior accordingly in light of the negative feedback (not a forte in Japan).
- disqus_vBekJrf7g5
  
  ‘Moaning section’.
  You must be doing that thing where any criticism of Japan is seen as an attack to be defended against, rather than accepting that the people targeted by the ‘omotenashi’ campaign are rejecting it as patronizing, and adjusting behavior accordingly in light of the negative feedback (not a forte in Japan).
- disqus_vBekJrf7g5
  
  ‘Moaning section’.
  You must be doing that thing where any criticism of Japan is seen as an attack to be defended against, rather than accepting that the people targeted by the ‘omotenashi’ campaign are rejecting it as patronizing, and adjusting behavior accordingly in light of the negative feedback (not a forte in Japan).
GBR48

This is a comments section, not just a moaning section isn’t it? Sometimes it is difficult to tell.

Tokyo’s rail network is easy to navigate for anyone who takes a few hours to prepare themselves online, and who doesn’t do that nowadays before a holiday? Navigating almost anywhere in Japan is really easy in an online world. If you can afford to get to and stay in Japan, you can afford a tablet or smartphone and to rent a pocket WiFi. And of course there are signs everywhere in Japanese, Romaji, English and increasing Korean and Mandarin too. Maps are freely handed out outside stations and there are plenty of map boards. Almost all tourist venues have information desks.

Aside from the issue of limited express trains missing some stops, which is usually explained visually on station boards (and on Wikipedia), and green cars, it’s a doddle. If you are uncertain, or fear your accent may confuse someone, write your journey down on a piece of paper when purchasing a ticket. Most tourists will just get a Suica or Icoca card on arrival, which makes things even simpler.

Maybe with the exception of Shinjuku station (where getting lost is a must-do tourist experience in itself), it’s just about impossible to get lost in central Tokyo, and whilst the railway staff are generally no more or less multilingual than anywhere else, they are always happy to help – you don’t need advanced conversational skills to find out how to get from A to B.

Online translation of basic words (even showing photos of what you want) on a tablet is usually enough in most circumstances, whilst a written address or a Google Maps location is fine for a taxi driver.

Ironically, the only place I had trouble navigating in Japan was the Kansai area. All of a sudden the stations aren’t always where you need them, and there are buses everywhere. A bafflingly huge number of the things. Even then it just takes a moment of adjustment-no more than is needed to work out which bus you need in your home town. There are endless resources for visitors to Japan online. From the Hiroshima tram system to the glorious monorails, it is all online.

It’s lovely that everyone wants to make such an effort for tourists and we should appreciate it instead of whining all the time. Unless people are really lazy and don’t make any attempt to plan any trips they intend to make, Japan is one of the easiest places in the world to find your way about in.

The addition of multilingual staff stationed at appropriate places will help those who maybe have trouble with technology, and offers a bit of extra reassurance for anyone caught up in a large crowd at a busy time of the day, so it will help and is welcome.

My only reservation regarding ‘omotenashi’ is that visitors may take advantage of it.
J.P. Bunny

“Omotenashi.” They can flush that word down the toilet. But, the cab system and the multilingual staff at the railways, great ideas.

TOKYO (12 a.m.)

News

National

Kansai’s ‘omotenashi’ hospitality to foreigners may be model for all Japan

by Genki Ito

Photos

Keywords